Method and machine for packaging articles



April 2, 1963 H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug April 2, 1963 H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 INVENTOR '/Vwy 6fm/z April 2, 1963 H. GANZ 3,083,510

METHOD AND MACHINE ECE PACKAGING ARTICLES l INVENTOR April 2, 1963 H. GANZ 3,083,510

METHOD ANDI MACHINE FCR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 i /47 J A I i 28 l @W a 20d I 9K i I 32, v l Il RII Il Il 1 8 i Z 2&1

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METHOD AND MACH-INE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 2, 1963 H. GANZ 3,083,510

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 oo W April 2, 1963 H. GANZ METHOD AND MACHINE FCR PACKAGING ARTICLES original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 'T INVENTOR #6W/Py GAM/z April 2, 1963 H. GANZ 3,083,510

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 April .2, 11963 H. GANZ 3,083,510 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTI-CLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Apri! 2, 196'3 H. GANZ 3,083,510

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METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 9, 1957 Tlqjbn 12 Sheets-Sme?l 12 United States Patent Oillice 3,083,51@ .Patented Apr. 2, 1953 essere lvmTHGD AND MASHINI?. FR PAQKAGING ARTICLES Henry Ganz, Teaneck, Nl., assigner to Continental @an gonikpany, Inc., New York, RLY., n corporation of New or Continuation o application Ser. No. 677,357, Aug. 9, 1957. rI`his application Ang. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 47,392 19 Claims. (Ci. 532-43) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machine and methods for automatically packaging cans, bottles and similar articles. This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial N o. 677, 387, tiled August 9, 1957, now abandoned.

More particularly, the invention relates to such machines and methods for packaging such articles in openended paperboard wrappers as well as in closed or partially closed cartons.

Brietly, the invention covers the arrangement of causing continuously travelling articles to be packaged; of the separation of the said travelling articles into predetermined groups; of the delivery of paperboard blanks from the hopper of said machine; the inversion of the said blanks; the alignment of one of said wrapper blanks or cartons on top of each travelling predetermined group; the closing of such blank about said group; and, nally, delivering the completely linished package to a receiving platorm.

The objects of the invention will become obvious from a reading of the detailed description of my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention showing such parts of my machine as may be necessary for a complete understanding of the said method and machine.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings, it will be seen that:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic side view of the machine of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of the hopper;

FIGS. 3A and 3B, when positioned together at the indicated dot and dash lines, give a side elevational view of my machine;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the hopper of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5A and 5B, when positioned together at the indicated lines, give a top plan view of the balance of the machine;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are side elevational views showing the details of the hopper;

FIG. l0 is a blank used to wrap around the cans;

FIG. l1 is a completed package;

FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are details of the vacuum operation of the hopper;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 16-16 of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 17 is a view showing the details of a pusher block;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 18-18 of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 19-19 of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows Z0-20 of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 2l is a sectional View looking in the direction of the arrows 21-21 of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 22 is a sectional View of FIG. 3A looking in the direction of arrows 22-22;

FIG. 23 is a sectional View looking in the direction of arrows 23-23 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view showing a group of cans with the blank folded down over them;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view, in section, showing the relationship of a block pusher to the cans and the blank when the machine is in operation;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of FIG. 25 taken along the lines 26-26;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view, in section, looking in the direction of the arrows 27--27;

FIG. 28 is a sectional View of FIG. 3A looking in the direction of the arrows 28-28;

FIG. 29 is a sectional View of FIG. 3A looking in the direction of the arrows 'Z9-29;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view of FIG. 29 taken in the direction of the arrows 30-30;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the upper bottom folding blade;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the lower bottom folding blade;

FIG. 33 is a perspective View of the forward end of one of the receiving blades;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of FIG. 3A looking in the direction of the arrows 34-34;

FIG. 35 is a view, in section, of FIG. 34 taken along the lines 35-35; and

FIG. 36 is a top plan view of a section of a completed package.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings for a detailed description of my invention, FIG. l illustrates the various positions of one blank as it travels through the machine from the hopper H at station 1, its delivery onto the block chains 12 at station 2, into guide members 8' at station 3 Where the blank is inverted and placed on the tops of cans 9, then on to station 4 where its side walls are folded downwardly, then on to station 5 along supports under which the bottom flaps are overlapped, then to station 6 where these aps are interlocked.

As shown in FIG. 1, a blank B made of liber board like material, scored and die-cut in the manner of the blank shown in FIG. l0, is fed by the hopper H at station 1 onto a pair of parallel but laterally spaced short moving sprocket chain belts 30 and then onto chain belts 12 at station 2. The belts 12 travel in the direction indicated by the arrow a immediately above it. Positioned at predetermined ntervals along moving belts 12 are a series of blocks I3 which are secured thereto in any suitable manner. These belts 12 with their attached blocks travel around sprocket wheels 32 which are mounted upon rotatable shafts7 as hereinafter more fully explained.

At station 2 it will be seen that blank B has been moved into a position between two of said blocks 13. As will be seen (in FIGS. 4 and 5A) there are two upper laterally spaced endless sprocket chains 12 travelling in spaced apart parallel paths and each belt has a series of blocks 13 attached thereto. The vblocks on one belt are aligned with the blocks on the other belt and travel parallel to each other `so that a single blank can be placed between `four blocks. The leading side edge of a blank, as it travels along its path, abuts two blocks in front, one on one belt and one on the companion belt, and its trailing side edge also abuts two blocks, one on one belt and one on the other. The blank .bridges across the space between the two endless belts. These belts are so operated by the rotation of the saine rotatable shafts that they always travel at the same speed, thus insuring that when the locks of one belt are transversely aligned with the blocks of `the other belt, the blocks will always remain in the same position relative to each other during their movenien-t.

The chains with their attached blocks, and carrying the blanks B, travel around curved guides 8 at station 3. The blank, when it is fed from the hopper onto the belts, is placed face downward with that side of the blank which forms the outer side of the package facing onto the belt so that when the blank B .travels around the curved guide 8, it comes into contact with the cans 9 face up.

At the same time that the blanks B are fed onto the belts and travel along their paths, a plurality of containers, in this instance cans 9, are 'fed along a path, as illustrated in FIG. 1. These cans are .fed along in two parallel rows in the direction as indicated by the arrow b. As they reach the group selectorstation, they are separated into predetermined groups by a group selector mechanism. In the illustration, each of the two parallel rows is separated into groups of three, thus selecting a group of six cans ready to be packaged into one unit.

As a group of six cans arrives at station 3, one of the blanks B is placed onto Vsaid group and travels in the same path and direction to station 4, where means, such as. a folding plate, are provided to cause the sides of the blank B to be bent or folded down against :both sides of said group. I The group next travels to station 5. In its travel from station 4 to station 5, the bottom aps of the carton were folded upwardly into ffull overlapping position. At this point, the group of six cans is still resting upon the supports 37, 37a along which it has been travelling. After the bottom apshave been completely overlapped, the group with the carrier Wrapped around it leaves its support so that the bottoms of the cans are now in contact with the overlapped ilaps of the bottom of the carrier.

From station 5 the package now travels to station 6 where the bottom flaps are locked together by locking lingers 10, `as will be more fully described hereinafter. After the bottom aps have @been interlocked, the package is complete and leaves the machine in the direction of the arrow c.

At the bottom of FIG. 1 there can be seen one of the lower endless sprocket chain belts 11 positioned beneath one of the upper endless chain belts 12. These chains are powered by the same motor and operated by the same interconnected shafts and gears so that they are synchronized to travel at predetermined speeds in timed relation to each other, as hereinafter more fully described. The blocks 113 attached to the upper endless sprocket chain 'beltsv 12, in addition to guiding the blanks B along the top and around the curved guides 8 onto the cans 9, also push the upper portion of the cans and the blank along its path of travel.V Atthe same time that these blocks 13 are pushing, the pusher bars or flights 14 which are attachedV to the lower endless chain belts 11 act to push the bottom portion of the can group and carrier, thus giving a uniformly even push to the top and bottom of the cans, and carrier, simultaneously.

4In `FIG. 2, which is a detailed side view of the hopper of my invention, there is shown a magazine or stack of blanks B. These blanks are placed into the hopper H by hand or other suitable manner. This stack is supported at the bottom by flange 15 and by movable fingers 16, which latter are pivotally attached to rocker arm 17. This rocker arm is connected to link 18 which is in turn actuated by cam 18a (see FIG. 4) in any usual standard manner so as to impart a back and Iforth rocker motion to rocker arm 17, which pivots about shaft 121 (as illustrated in FIG. 2.) suitably connected to frame F.

Positioned beneath Ithe stack of blanks B in hopper H are suction oups 19. These cups are aligned and are connected to pipe 20 which in turn is connected by hose connections 20a to vacuum manifold 98 (see FIG. 4). The latter is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown). The pipe 20 is connected to and supported upon rocker arm 22which is pivotally supported upon a rotatable shaft 23 which in turn is supported in the usual manner to the standards which support the machine elements.

Pivotally attached to the same shaft 23 is another rocker arm 24 having a 'bar 25 extending upwardly from its free end, while at the otherV end of arm 24 is secured by nut and bolt 26 a roller l111:1 upon which means, such as -a cam 11-1, operates for moving said rocker arm 24. When the cam end of arm 24 is pulled downwardly, the other end with its bar 25 moves upwardly against the bottom of the stack of blanks B.

When the bar 25 is in contact with the stack, the suction cup 19 is also in contact with the stack, which is resting upon and is supported by fingers 16 and flange 15.

At a predetermined time the finger support 16 is caused to move outwardly away from the stack by movement of link 18 pulling upon end 21, causing the arm 17 to pivot about shaft 121. The removal of this support causes the weight of the stack to rest upon bar 25, and gives a flush contact with suction cup 19. The support arm with its bar 25 moves upwardly to take the weight. At a predetermined point the vacuum goes on and the suction cup begins a downward pull on the forward edge portion 27 of the blank (as hereinafter morewfully explained). When the edge portion of the blank is pulled down a sufficiently shotdistance, the lingers 16 begin to return to their normal position to support the stack of blanks. However, since the bottom blank is held away from the stack by the suction cups, the ngers 16 do not touch the held-away blank but continue in their path of movement above it and in under the stack. As soon as the ngers 16 come into supporting contact with the stack, the bar 25 moves away from the stack, thus leaving the bottom blank free to be pulled away.

. During the time the bottom blank is being moved from beneath the stack, nip rollers 28, 28a are in operation. These rollers during the operation of the machine are continuouslyrotating. These rollers are positioned adjacent the forward end of the bottom of the stack so that as the suction cup brings a single blank B downward, its edge touches the lower nip roller 28a. At this time, the upper nip roller shaft 29 about which roller 28 is rotating is caused to move in an arc in a direction towards the free edge 27 of the blank B. And, since both rollers are rotating about their shafts in the direction of the arrows, they will grip the edge of the blank when the smaller or upper nip roller shaft 28 in its arcuatemovement cornes into contact with the top of the blank B.

As the blank B moves between these nip rollers`28, 28a, it travels down onto endless chain belts 30 for delivery to endless chain belts 12 (see FIG. 3B). The chain belts 12 travel around sprocket gear wheels 32 in the direction of the Yarrow,` as indicated. This causes the blank B to be inverted and to be positioned upon the incoming cans, as herein more fully explained.

Following the same path as the belt, the carton sides are caused to be bent in a downward direction along score lines 41, 42 (see FIG. l0) along the sides of the cans 9. The means for doing this are the two side wall folding blades 33. As the leading edges' of the horizontally extended sides of the carrier come into contact with blades 33, they are gradually caused to fold downwardly as a result of the inclined downward cut of the blades 33 as indicated at 34 in FIGS. 3A, 3B. As the carton sides hit the points 34 of theblades 33, the continued pressure of the carton against said edges of said blades causes the carton sides toy follow the path of the inclined edge in a downward direction until said sides are forced against the outer sides of the can group 9.

As the carton travels along with its sides folded down, the bottom flaps are now being folded inwardly and upwardly towards the bottom of the said can group. This is accomplished by means of'bottom folding blades 35, 35a acting in cooperation with vertical folding plate 35b.

The cans 9 travel from the group selector mechanism- 38a along which the said bottom flaps are interlocked, as explained hereinafter.

In order to clearly understand the interlocking and how it is accomplished by means of fingers (see FIGS. 1 and 3A), we will first refer to the blank illustrated in FIG. l0. 'This blank is scored along transverse lines 4t?, 4l, 42' and 43, which score lines divide the blank into a top wall 44, side walls 47, 48 and two bottom half flaps 49 5t). The top panel member 44 has two apertures 45 for iinger gripping of the carrier.

The side wall panels 47 48' are joined to opposite edges of the top panel 44. Each of the side wall panels 47, 48 has attached at its bottom through score lines 4t?, 43, respectively, bottom closure liaps 49, 5t). At the outer edge of bottom flap 49 there is cut a locking tab 52. This tab is forced into aperture 51 of flap `Sil by fingers Mi after the carton has been completely wrapped around the cans 9 as the package travels through the machine.

'The said fingers having forced the locking tab 52 into aperture 51 the two bottom flaps 49 and Si) are thus held in overlapped relation and are prevented from spreading apart while the glue, which has been applied to these fiaps, sets.

Now referring to the fingers 10 of FIGS. 1, 3A and 34, it will be seen at this point that the two bottom closure flaps 49, 5) have been completely overlapped, with flap 49 on the inside and iiap 50 on the outside (as shown in FIG. ll). With these flaps in this position, the fingers it? are caused to rise to contact the bottom of the carton, each finger hitting a locking tab 52 (as herein explained). The size and shape of each finger is such that they fit into apertures S1 so that with the continued upward movement of the fingers, the locking tabs 52 are forced into apertures Sit until the shoulders of the tabs 52 rest on the inner surface of ap Sti, thus locking one flap to the other. Any number of locks may be used. Also, any number of fingers may be employed, as desired.

These fingers 10 (as shown in FIG. 34) are supported in a vertical position on plate 53. This plate 53 is in turn movably supported by support 53a, which is supported by two rotatable circular discs S4 to which it is connected by means of shafts 55. The construction, which is shown in FIG. 34, consists of short shafts 55 upon which said discs 54 are mounted. Each shaft 5S is positioned off-- center preferably near the periphery of the said discs. These shafts 55 are aligned and the plate 53a is secured thereto by inserting the shafts 5S into apertures so that when the discs 54 are rotated in the direction of the arrow e (FIG. 34), they cause the plate 53a to rise and to travel in a circular motion. in FlG. 34, the locking fingers and supporting mechanism are shown in upper position with the fingers 1t) inserted into the apertures 51 while at the bottom there is shown, in phantom, the same mechanism in its lowermost position. The ngers 10, which follow the motion of the plate, rise in a circular motion, enter into the apertures 51 of the bottom flap, causing the lock 52 to also enter the said apertures. Since the carton is continuously travelling in a straight forward line, it is necessary for the fingers to force the lock tab into the aperture, enter the aperture while at the same time travel in the same direction as the carton and then leave the said apertures. The fingers leave the apertures when they continue their circular motion which brings them downward, as indicated by the arrow e of FIG. 34, into the position indicated in phantom.

The diameter of the discs 54 and the vertical height of the fingers are predetermined so that one continuous circular motion brings the fingers into the apertures of a moving carton directly above them, continues along its path to leave the apertures, go downward and then begin to rise to enter the apertures of the next oncoming carton B.

This continuous circular motion of the ngers it) thus enables the continuously moving cartons above them to have the bottom flaps ofthe blanks B locked together without any interruption in the flow or travel of the cartons.

In order to provide protection for the lingers lil and the package in the event the fingers for some reason do not freely enter the apertures, or if the carton presses against the fingers, there is provided a spring 57 which is connected at one end 58 to the forward end of the movable platform 53a and at its other end 59 to the top movable plate 53 which supports the fingers ltd. Thus, when pressure is exerted in a direction against the fingers, the said fingers and plates tend to move away from the pressure and then return under the spring tension after the pressure has eased off.

Up to this point we have followed the travel of the carton from the hopper H onto the cans and from station it through stations 2, 3, fil, 5 and `6. We will now look at FIGS. l and 5B to follow the travel of the cans 9 as they are fed into my machine and as they travel into and through the selector station shown in FIG. 3B.

This selector mechanism is best understood by referring to FIG. 5B, which is a top plan view of the group selector and can infeed end of the machine. It comprises endless sprocket chain belts 6l, 62 and 63 which travel in horizontally disposed paths. These chain belts travel in paths that are in a plane at right angles to the plane of the travel paths of belts 1l and l2. Securely attached to chain belts 16 are a series of spacer elements 6ta which are spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of three cans to be packaged. These spacer eleme-nts separate each row of cans into groups of three. As they travel in the direction of the arrow f, the cans 9 travel in the direction of the arrow h. The chain 61 travelling around horizontally disposed sprocket wheels 68 causes the spacer elements, which are secured thereto in any suitable manner, to enter the space between two cans. And since these elements 61a are spaced apart as aforesaid, these elements will group cans 9 in each row in groups of three.

Endless chain 62 is operated by sprocket wheel 64 which is connected in any standard mechanical manner to a source of energy. Chain 62 also encircles sprockets 65, 66 and 66a to keep the travel of chains 6l and 63 at the same rate of speed. Chain 6l encircles sprocket 65 and sprockets 67, 68 while chain 63 encircles sprocket 66 which drives said chain. It also encircles and meshes with sprocket wheels 69, 7G.

Chain 63 has securely aixed to it a series of elements 76 that act to keep the can groups of three separate while at the same time pushing the said groups forward onto plates 37 and 37a, where the blocks 13 of chain 12 and the pusher bars M1 of chain 1li (see FIG. 3B) take over the pushing of the groups of cans in their travel through stations 4, 5, and 6 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 5B, there are two sets of such chains and sprockets, one for one row of cans as heretofore eX- plained, and the other set for the companion row of cans. As the cans 9 are fed into the infeed end of the machine, they are pushed by members 61a ou endless chains 6l which propel or carry the cans into and through the group selector mechanism in two parallel rows so that as the cans come under the blanks being carried on upper chain 12, said blanks are placed upon each group of six cans 9.

The cans are placed on delivery chains 74 in two parallel rows so that we have cans coming along in the direction of the arrow h and under the moving power of endless chains 74, and while so travelling they come under the action of the group selector chain 61 and spacers 63. They continue moving on chains 74 to the end of the said chains at 75 where the pusher members 76 seucured in any standard manner to said chain 63 take over the pushing forward of the can groups and push them from platform 77 onto plates 72, 73 located between theends 75 of the chains 74 and supporting swords 37, 37a.

As the can groups leave the pushers 76, the pusher bars 14 come up from the bottom, as shown in FIG. 3B, to take over the pushing of the groups of cans while the pusher 7 lblocks 13 of chain 112 come down from the topv to push the tops of the cans, as heretofore described.

Similarly, spacer elements 76 travel in alignment sof that as they engage the two trailing cans of a group of six,l they keep these cans travelling parallel to each other and in transverse alignment with each other.

The cans have now been selected into groups of six, and as the blank B of FIG. l comes under the pressure of side wall folding blades, the side walls 47, 48' extend downwardly on both sides of the group of six cans with bottom flaps 49, `50 also extending downwardly.

As the group continues its travel, thedownwardly extending aps 49, 50 come into contact with bottom flap folding blades 35, 35a (see FIG. 5A). These two folding. blades converge slightly, as shown in FIG. A. In addition, each blade is shaped as shown in FIG. 5A with their inner corner ends cut diagonally, as at 84.

With the blades thus shaped and when in position in the machine, as shown in FIG. 5A, and with their inner corners 84 each cut at an angle to the path of travel of the group of cans 9 with the blank B placed on top of. said cans and with the sides of the blank folded downparallel to the sides of the cans being packaged, the down-v wardly hanging bottom flaps 49, 50 hit against the cut inner corners 84. Flap 50 comes into contact irst with; blade 35a.

The size of blank B is such, and the folding blades 3S, 35a are so positioned beneath the supporting swords 37, 37a that the downwardly extending Vflaps 49, 56 extend downwardly lower at this point of the machine than the said blades. This causes the flaps 49, 50 of the blank B to come into direct contact with sections 84 of said folding blades 35, 35a- (see FG. 5A).

As ap 50 cornes into contact with edge 84a of blade 35a, the flap is urged inwardly towards sword 37a. Immediately after llap Silhits edge 84a, its companion ap 49comes 4into contact rwith edge 84 of blade 35. This urges flap 49 inwardly beneath sword 37. This inward motion of both flaps also causes these flaps to be urged upwardly. As the liaps rise, the bottom surfaces thereof come into contact withthe infeed end portions of the said blades 35, 35a. As the cans and blank continue their travel, the bottom flaps ride overv lthe tops of said blades. At this point, with the extended shoulder portionsV 84 extended towards each other, the flaps 49, 50: are now completely overlapped and folded at right angles to the side walls 47, 4S' ofthe blank B, as shown in FIG. 29. In this condition the package enters between hanged members 39. There are two of these members. One is secured to and positioned on blade 3S, while the other is secured to and positioned on blade 35a, as shown in FIG. 5A. The inner por-tions of these members are flanged at- 46, as shown in FlG. 22. The anged edges of both members are so spaced from each other that when the package travels between them, the flanged edges 46 press tightly against the sides. 47, 48 of the carton B, thus tightening the carton about the cans 9. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the edges 46 press against the sides 47, 48 atA a point above the extending chimes of cans 9. By the use of the flanges, pressure is allowed to be exerted against sides 47, 48 and still the chimes of the cans are allowed to pass beneath said flanges.

Y In order to maintain thev complete folding and overlapping during the remainder of the travel of the wrappedaround groupof cans, the center, folding vertical plate 35h is positioned beneath supporting swords 37, 37a and transversely between folding blades 35, 35a. In this connection, it should be noted that folding blades 35, 35a extend in a plane below supporting swords S177, 37a which support the travelling cans 9 in their travel Vfrom position 4. toposit-ion 5` and that these bladesdo not extend beyond the ends 8.6, of swords 37, 37a, so that the flaps 49, 50 are completely overlapped when they enter upon receivingA blades 38, 38a.

, Blade 3511 is` supported in any well known manner to.

frameV F and extends upwardly and then arcuately to a point beneath swords 37, 37a, and then extends substantially parallel to the bottom of swords37, 37a (as shown in FIG. 3A) so that the bottom surface of overlapped flap 49 comes into contact therewith to maintain said overlap in the travel of the package from the supporting swords onto the receiving blades so that said aps 49, 50 will be in fully overlapped position while the package is on said swords 38, 38a and continues so until the locks have secured said flaps together. These locks keep the flaps 49, Si) together to enable the glue to set with the aps in place.

The locking tabs 52 are pushed through apertures 51 of the blank B (illustrated in FIG. l0) by the locking mechanism shown in detail in FIG. 34 and shown in top plan View in FIG. 5A where a portion of the receiving plates 38, 38a have been cut away for a better view of the said locking mechanism and its position in the machine.

At the package discharge end of the machine there is also illustrated a top plan sectional view of the hopper H showing the movable fingers 16., heretofore referred to in the description of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, there are serrated grippers 88 positioned between. the fingers 16. Also shown are two endless sprocket chains 30. Transversely, these chains are positioned between the lower chains 12 and the upper endless chains 11 and are used to aid in the travel of the blanks B from the hopper H in a forward and downward direction onto chains 12 which carry the blank to the inversion element 8 at station 3v.

The serrated grippers 8S are also shown in cross-sectional view in FIG'. 2. There are a plurality of transverse serrations 89. Each serration is about the width of the thickness of the blank 10. As the blanks in the magazine or hopper descend towards the fingers 16, they are separated at this point from each other by these serrations. The forward edges of the blanks snap from one serration tothe next lower one in their downward travel. This allows the bottom blank at this point to be separated from the one above -t when the suction cups 19 pull the bottom blank at its forward edge further downward after the lingers 16 have been moved outwardly and away from the stack. It prevents more than one blank at a time from being pulled downwardly by the suction cups 19.

Referring Vnow to FIG. 4, there is shown the upper chains 12 with their attachedV pusher blocks 13. These chains 12 are driven by the usual mechanical means. In this instance the chains are propelled by sprocket wheels 32 mounted upon rotatable shaft 90 driven byV mechanical means connected to a source of energy, such as a motor.

Endless chains 30 also travel over sprocket wheels 91 mounted on rotatable shaft 92. Mounted on the same shaft 192 is the ylower nip roller 28a. Positioned immediately above this shaft is the upper nip roller 28 mounted upon and rotatable with shaft 29. This latter shaft is connected to lower shaft 92 through meshing gears 94, 94a so that the motion of each shaft and its connected Sprocket wheels and attached chains are synchronized and travel in a preset and predetermined speed and relation to each other. Y

Re planetary motion of upper nip roller 28 in relation to lower nip roller 28a is controlled through arm andlink connections V95, 95a, 9517, iwhich in turn are actuated by cam means 96. The latter is mounted upon a main drive shaft 97 and activates arm and link connections 95, 95a, 95b at predetermined times in accordance with the rise or dwell of said cam 96. As shaft 97 rotates, it rotates cam 96.

Connected to the same shaft 97 are the arm supports 22 for the pipe 20 upon which is supported suction cups 19, the support arm 24v for the bar 25, and the manifold 98; and the endless chains 99 riding over and being supported by sprocket wheel. 100'and by wheel 101 mounted in shaft 1114. Mounted on rotatable shaft 104 is sprocket wheel 101aover. which ridesendless chain 102, which latter also rides over sprocket wheel 103. Thus it can be seen that the pulling down of the blank B by suction cups 19, the delivery of the blanks over chains 311, the speed of chains and the moving of fingers 16 and bar 25 as Well as the speed of chains 39 are all controlled by, and timed by the main drive shaft 97 which is connected to a source of energy in any suitable mechanical manner.

In addition, by connecting manifold 98 to shaft 97 the vacuum and the breaking of same is controlled through vacuum hose 2da, which is connected to the pipe 20 which is in turn connected to suction cups 19. The manner of making and breaking this vacuum is more fully explained hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The pipe 2) and the suction cups 19* are supported by arms 22, which in turn are supported upon shaft 23 actuated by cam 169 on shaft 97, as shown in FIG. 4, thus causing pipe 20 to ascend and descend in a predetermined arc so that its supported suction cups 19 hit the bottom blank in the magazine and then pull said blank downwardly at its forward edge after lingers 16 pull away from the stack of blanks, allowing the blank to be pulled therefrom, and thereafter the fingers 16 return to hit the bottom of the next blank in the magazine.

In this same ligure the bar 25, which in its upward movement supports the stack of blanks when finger 16 is moved therefrom, is shown supported by arms 24 connected to and pivoted about shaft 23. The rocker arms 24 are actuated by cam 111 in any usual standard manner. Said cam is mounted upon rotatable shaft 97.

Also attached to and supported by rotatable shaft 97 is vacuum manifold 98, the details of which are illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15. In FIG. 12 there is shown the hose connection Zita leading to vacuum cups 19. At the bottom of this figure there is shown the hose connection 20h to the vacuum pumps (not illustrated). Between 2da and Zub there is shown the valve mechanism for making and breaking the vacuum in the suction cups 19. As there shown, a stationary hermetically sealed enclosure 112 is provided. Within this enclosure, as illustrated, is rotatable shaft 97.

Surrounding shaft 97 there is provided a plate 112 with an aperture 114 (FIG. 15) at the top portion thereof adapted to receive hose 26a which connects to the suction cups 19. At the bottom portion there is provided a second aperture 113 adapte-d to receive hose 2Gb connected to the usual vacuum pump. Plate 112 is stationary, while shaft 97 rotates within central aperture 1113.

Within aperture 114 is an opening 115, While aperture 113 has opening 116 leading therein. Directly positioned against the lefthand side of plate 112 (as shown in FiG. is another plate 117. This latter plate surrounds shaft 97 and is securely attached thereto so that it rotates with said shaft.

This plate 117, shown in FIG. 14, has a `cut-out portion 113 along its circumference. Plate 117 also has a recessed portion 119 cut out on its inner side, as shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 14, which latter FIG. 14 is a view along the lines 141-14 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 15 As there shown, the plate 117 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 about shaft 97. In its travel, and as illustrated in FIG. 12, the hose opening 115 is about to be crossed by the recessed portion 119 so as to permit the air to be sucked from the suction cups 19. This plate 117 continues its rotation until cut-out portion 118 travels across opening 115. 'Ihis cut-away portion 11S thus vents air into said opening 115 and shuts olf the vacuum from suction cups 19 which releases blanks B which said cups had previously drawn from the hopper H.

Opening 116 is always within recess 119 so that the vacuum pump (not shown) can remain in continuous operation at all times while the machine is in operation.

As the plate 117 continues its rotation, air is always being sucked from recess 119 so that when recess 119 travels across opening 115, the suction is communicated to said opening and to cup 19, which sucks the bottom blank towards said `cups 19.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the movements of the suction cups 19, the support fingers 16, and the bar 23, together with the operation of the nip rollers 28 and 28a. As there shown, the bottom portion of the hopper H is illustrated in FIG. 6 in its normal position. The blanks, such as the blanks of the carrier B (FIG. 1(1) are stacked in the magazine and are supported at the bottom by flange 15 and fingers 16 and by the support bar 25 with suction cup 19 pressed against the bottom blank. Fingers 16 are pivotally movable about shaft121, as heretofore explained in connection with FIG. 2.

In its motion the support bar 25 is raised to take the weight of the stack olf of lingers 16, the weight on flange 15 remaining as it was. As the weight is lifted oif lingers 16 by bar 25, said nger moves outwardly from under said stack in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 7 and the suction cup is retracted downwardly, bringing with it the forward edge of the bottom blank, as shown in FIG. 8.

When the suction cup has lowered the bottom blank a predetermined distance, the finger 16 is then moved back in between the forward edge portion of the bottom blank, and the stack, which during the movement of the nger 16 was supported by support bar 25, is now supported by the linger 16 and flange 15. The bar Z5 then descends so that it is out of contact with said bottom blank while the suction cup brings the said blank down into contact with lower nip roller 23a. At this point the plate aperture 118 crosses opening 115 (FIG. 13), thus breaking the vacuum and freeing the blank from the hopper.

And while the movements of the support bar 25, iingers 16, suction cups 19 were taking place, nip roller 23a was continuously rotating clockwise (as viewed in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9) in the direction of the arrow and nip roller 23 was continuously revolving in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated. Rotating nip roller 28a remains in its position so that the forward or leading edge portion of the blank cornes to rest thereon. As the blank was descending, the upper revolving nip roller 28 was moving in an arc `about roller 28a from its position shown in FlG. 6 to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 9 so that both nip rollers now act on the moving blank to propel it through said nip rollers onto chains 30, which latter carry said blank onto chain 12 in a forward and inclined downward direction.

In FIG. 16 there is shown a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 16-16 of FIG. 3A. Nip rollers 23 and 28a are propelling carton blank E forward, as heretofore explained. Endless chains 30, onto which blank B is propelled, carry the carton from said nipper rollers onto chains 12. Chains 30 are supported by and ride over sprocket wheels connected to shafts 90, 92. Shaft 911 also supports sprocket wheels 32 over which ride endless sprocket chains 12 carrying block pushers 13.

The details of these block pushers are shown in FIG. 17. They are rectangular and are attached in any well known manner to said chains 12. The blocks on one chain are transversely aligned with the blocks on the companion chain so that when they push the blank B by its trailing edge, -they keep said blank at right angles to the path of travel of said chains.

Each block has its center portion cut out, as at 122, sot hat when the cans or the chimes of the cans protrude from the blank, the pressure of these blocks will be against the cans 9 and simultaneously against the trailing edges of the carton blanks instead of against the cans 9 alone or the blank alone, which will be more fuliy explained hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 25 and 26. v

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken `along the lines 18-18 of FIG. 3B showing the two trailing cans of the se! lected group of cans being pushed forward by the separator elements 76 (shown in phantom). These separators 76 are carried by endless chains 63 in a horizontal 11 pathabout sprocket wheels 70 supported Yupon rotatable shafts 123. These cans are being pushed along platform 77 as herein described.

FIG. 19 is a sectional View taken along the lines indicated by arrows '19-19 of FIG. 3B showing the carton B as it'travels through the inversion elements or curved guide members 8. In this View the carton blank B is being positioned onto cans 9 which are travelling along on support swords 37, 37a under the pushing action of liights or pusher bars 14 attached to endless chains 11 propelled `by sprocket wheels 36a, as illustrated inYFIG. l.

At this point it should be noted that supporting blade or sword 37a is at Va higher' plane than its associated blade or sword 37. This is positioned so that the bottom half liap Si) is folded upwardly in advance of the bottom half liap 49, as herein more fully described'and illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 28.

FIG. 20 is a view taken along the lines 2li-'20 of FIG. 3B. In this ligure there is shown the pusher blocks 13 which are attached to endless chains 12 pushing blank B and .the cans 9 along support blades with the flights 14 also aiding in pushing the cans forward. On both sides of the path along which the cans and carton blank travel are side folding blades 33 (see FIG. 3). This figure shows the blank just Vafter it comes under the influence of the downwardly inclined edge of said blades 33, causing the sides to be bent downwardly against the sides of the selected group of cans.

As these cans and blanks continue their travel, the side walls 47, 48 continue in contact with the side folding walls or -blades 33 and come under the influence of the lower portion of the inclined forward or leading edge of the same side walls, thus continuing to cause the side walls 47, 4S to move closer to the side walls of the cans to -be packaged. At this point it should be noted that the bottom half flaps 49, 50 are extending in a downward direction, at which time these half flaps come into contact with bottom folding blades 35 and 35a. Flap 50, as it is to be folded upwardly first, comes into contact with bottom folding blade 35a before ap 49 comes into contact with bottom folding blade 35, as shown in FIGS. 2l, 28.

Also, the inner edgey portion 35C of blade 35a gradually extends inwardly further than the inner edge of 35 to also cause flap S to precede flap 49 in its upward folding, as shown in FIGS. 22, 28 and 29.

Similar parts are identified by the same numerals throughout the many figures in the drawings, so that no further reference need be made to the remaining details of this ligure.

FIG. 22 shows the cans and carrier in a still further advanced position and is a view taken along the lines 22-22 of FIG. 3A showing the llap 5t) being advanced towards the bottoms of the cans 9 while flap 49 has not as yet come into contact with lbottom folding blade 37.

FIG. 23 is -a View taken along the lines 23-23 of FIG. 22, and shows the bottom ilap 49 extending 'downwardly. Part of the carton has been torn away to show the cans 9.

FIG. 24 is a plan view along the lines 24-24 of FIG. 23 with a top part of the carton torn away to disclose the cans 9 travelling along the supporting swords 37, 37a with the top pusher blocks 13 pushing them forwardly.

FIG. 25 is a top plan detailed sectional view showing the pusher block 13 pushing against the can 9, which extends into opening 122 of said block 13 while the leading portions y12.2[1 on both sides of the said opening 122 push against the trailing edge of the blank B.

FIG. 26 lis a detailed sectional view along the lines 26-26 of FIG. 25 showing the chimes 9a of the cans 9 in contact with the portion 122 of the block 13 while the portion 12211 is in contact with the itrailing edge of the top panel blank B. Blocks 13 are attached to and supported: by endless chains 12.

Vlo

FIG. 27 is another detailed sectional plan view. It is along the lines 27-27 of FIG. 23 and shows the pusher bars or flights 14 attached to and supported by lower endless chains 11 travelling around and supported by sprocket wheels 36b. These wheels are supported upon rotating shafts suitably journalled in the frame F and mechanically connected to a source of power, as herein described. These iiights 14 push against the lower portions o-f the cans 9 while the blocks 13 simultaneously push against the upper portions of the same cans 9.

FIG. 28 is -a detailed sectional view taken along the lines 28-28 of FIG. 3A. This ligure shows the further advancement ofthe cans 9 and carton B. And, it further shows the inward and side tapering of the supporting 'swords 37, 37a with the ilap 50 coming into lirst contact with the bottoms of the cans 9 with liap 49 coming into overlapping relationship with said flap 50. This ligure also illustrates the offset of the bottom folding blades 35, 35a (see FIG. 3l), as well as the offset of the supporting swords 37, 37a, so that llap 50 is folded inwardly in advance of flap 49;

FIG. 29 i-s a detailed sectional view along the lines 29-29 of FIG. 3A, and shows the two bottom flaps in completely overlapped, folded relation to each other and to the side walls 47, 48 of blank B and the cans 9. Immediately beneath the supporting swords 37, 37a there is positioned a vertical folding plate 35b. As the carton has its bottom flaps thus overlapped they then come under influence of this vertically positioned folding plate 35b. The forward edge and the forward end of the top edge of plate 35b are both curved downwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 30. The overlapped aps come between the top portion of said plate `35b and the bottom portions of supporting swords 37, 37a, thus pushing said flaps against said swords to completely avoid any possibility of the said flaps sagging. In this fully overlapped position beneath said supporting swords, the package is now transferred over onto transfer blades 38, 38a, as a result of the continuous pushing of the carrier and cans by pusher blocks 13 and flights 14, as heretofore described.

In addition to the said support swords 37, 37a being in different planes to permit the folding of one bottom half flap 50 before the other 49, the top surfaces of one sword 35a has a portion thereof in a higher plane than the top surface of the other sword 37, as illustrated in FIG. 22. This, together with the spacing of the side guide members 39 a predetermined distance from each other, causes the chimes of the cans 9 in one row to ride over and upon the chimes of the adjacent row, also illustrated in the same FIG. 22. The distance between the guide walls 39 (FIG. 22), where this overriding takes place, is less lthan the outside of the diameter or periphery of the chimes of two such cans or other articles being packaged. Thus the cans 9 travel along these swords 37, 37a which form the bottom of the passageway along which these cans travel and in doing so, one row is higher than the adjacent row of cans. The guide walls cause one row to 'press close to the other row, as shown in FIG. 22.

A portion of these two swords 37, 37a is shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, respectively. Both these views are of the 'bottom sides of said swords Vand are perspective views looking up from under the machine.

The sword of FIG. 3l has a portion cut off diagonally, as at 78, to permit flap 59 to start its folding move iirst. Both the swords of FIG. 3l andFIG. 32 have iiat portions 81 and tapered portions 79 to allow for easier folding.V At the ends o-f both swords there are further tapering portions for the same purpose.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 35-35 of FIG. 34. As there shown, a group of cans 9 with the blank B wrapped thereover have travelled to a position immediately above t-he flap-locking mechanism of station 6 (see FIG. l for the location of this Station in the complete machine). Flap 50 with its aper- 13 tures 51 is positioned above iap 49 with each of its lock tabs 52 positioned directly beneath the respective aperture S1 of ilap 50.

As the lingers 1u rise, as heretofore explained in connection with FIG. 34, they -will push tabs S2 into apertures 51 to such an extent that the shoulders of the tabs will rest upon inner surface of the flap 49, thus securely locking aps 49 and 5u together. This locking of these two flaps keeps the flaps together while the glue heretofore applied to said flaps is setting.

The ngers are positioned on plate 53, which is supported by plate 53a. This latter is in turn supported by shafts S5, which are, in their turn, supported upon rotatable shafts 124. This shaft is suitably journalled in support frame and mechanically connected through gears 56 and chains to a power source, such as a main drive shaft connected to a motor (not shown).

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan sectional view along lines 36-35 of FIG. 35 to illustrate the position of the locking tabs 52 inserted into their associated apertures 51. This is shown at 125, and shows that these locks are positioned in the spaces between the cans 9.

The connection from the main drive shaft is through endless cha-ins, sprocket wheels, shafts and cams, so that all moving elements of my machine are synchronized and travel in predetermined paths and at predetermined speeds, which is accomplished as follows:

Referring first to FIG. 4, it can be there seen that main drive shaft 97 is connected through mechanical means to a source of power, such as a motor (not shown). This rotatable shaft 97 has sprocket wheels 1011 mounted thereon. Rotatable shaft 104 has sprocket wheel 101 mounted thereon. Endless chain belt 99 rides over and is supported by sprocket wheels 100 and 101. In this manner the speed of rotation of both shafts is maintained constant as to each other.

Also mounted on said shaft 1614 is sprocket wheel 101g, and shaft 93 has sprocket wheel 103 mounted thereon. Riding over and supported by sprocket wheels 111111 and 1%3 is endless chain belt 102, thus keeping the speed of rotation of shafts 9d and 97 constant and synchronized in relation to each other.

Also mounted on shaft 90 are sprocket wheels 32 over which ride endless chains 12, thus maintaining the speed of endless chain 12 constant in relation to the rotation of shafts 9%, 164 and 97.

Transversely positioned on both sides of chains 12 are sprocket wheels 39a over which ride endless chains 39. These latter chains ride over wheels 91 mounted on shaft 92. Chains 36 convey blanks B from nip rollers 28, 23a onto conveyor chains l12.

As nip roller 28a is mounted on shaft 92, we then have the speed of rotation of shafts 97, 14E-4, 92 and 9@ synchronized and in constant relation to the speed of rotation of nip roller 28a and the speed of travel of endless chains 12 and 36.

Rotatable shaft 29 is suitably mechanically supported above shaft 92 and is connected thereto through meshing gears 94, 94:1, mounted upon shafts 92 and 29, as shown in FlG. 4. Thus the rotational speed of nip roller 28a is controlled by the speed of rotation of shaft 92 through driving gear 94, thus controlling the rotational speed of driven gear 94a and shaft 29.

in this manner the number of rotations and the speed the nips 28 and 2da, and the planetary motion of roller 28 arcuately about and above roller 28a, is constant in relation to the movements of shafts 97, 194, 92 and 9@ and also as to the speeds of chains 311 and 12.

Mounted on rotatable shaft 9G are sprocket wheels 32 over which ride chains 12. Also mounted on shaft 99 (see FG. 3A) is a meshing gear 149, while mounted on shaft 147 are sprocket wheels 3i), over which ride chains '11. Also mounted on shaft 147 is a gear 15). Shafts 9% and 147 are connected to each other through gears 142, 143, 144, 149, 1511 as shown in FIG. 3A,

so that chains 11 and 12 are synchronized with each other.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 5A, shaft i147 has sprocket wheel 127 mounted thereon, over which rides endless chain 2126. yChain y126 also rides over sprocket wheels 12S, 129, all of which sprocket support said chain. Sprocket wheel y129 is attached to and supported by rotatable shaft y124. Also mounted on shaft 124 is a driving gear 1311 which meshes with and drives gear 1.31, which in turn meshes with and drives gear 132. Gear 132 is mounted on rotatable shaft y124:1 so that both shafts 124 and 124:1 rotate at the same speed and remain constant in respect to each other.

Attached to the other ends of shafts 124, y12451 are circular plates 54. To each of said plates are attached, as herein explained in connection with FIG. 34, the locking lingers 10x As a result of the above connections, the motion of the fingers in relation to lower chain belt 11 is fixed and constant.

Gear 131 is -mounted on rotatable shaft 133 which has a hand grip 134 by means of which said fingers may be transversely moved to insure accuracy in said lingers entering apertures 51 whenever different sizes of cartons are used, or the locks are in different transverse positions.

Now referring to FTG. 5B, it will be seen that horizontally disposed sprocket wheel 64 is connected through a bevel gear box y135 to shaft 136 upon which is mounted vertically disposed sprocket wheel 133. Endless chain 13S rides over said sprocket wheel .133, over wheel 139, and over sprocket idler wheel 141i. The position of sprocket wheel 14d is adjustable in a well known manner to tension said endless chain 138, whenever desired. Rotatable shaft 141 has mounted thereon sprocket wheel v159, while wheel 1413 is mounted on rotatable shaft 142 journalled in frame F.

Shaft 141 is the shaft upon which is mounted sprocket wheels 35a over which travel endless chains 11 which have flights or pusher bars 14 attached thereto. ln this manner the movement of the group selector mechanism is synchronized with the travel of the chains 11 so that the flights "14 arrive at station 3 directly in back of the selected group as it leaves pushers 76 (see FlG. 3B).

Endless chains 11 and 12 are synchronized through a series of gears 142, 143, 144 suitably supported upon shafts journalled in frame F intermeshed with gears 149 and 15G- rnounted on shafts 90 and 147. 'It should be understood that in place of `meshing gears 142, 143, 144 we may substitute sprocket wheels mounted on shafts and 147 plus an endless chain riding over such sprockets so as to interconnect said shafts.

`ln addition to synchronizing all moving elements, there is also provided means for adjusting the height of the upper endless chain section by mounting said section on jacks 145, 146 adjustable by cranks 148 in any well known manner.

While 1 have provided two laterally spaced top endless c-haius '12, as shown in FTGS. 1 and 16, I can provide a single top endless chain upon which is supported a plurality of spaced pusher blocks of sufficient width vfor each single block to push `against two transversely aligned cans or rows of cans. Each of such single blocks can be provided with two scalloped or cut-out edge portions to perform the same function as the cutout edge portion 122 of FIG. 17.

I claim:

l. In an automatic packaging machine, the method of packaging cans consisting of the steps of delivering to said machines the said cans to be packaged, then causing said cans to travel along a predetermined path while simultaneously delivering paperboard blanks with one face coated, coated faces downward, from a hopper to an endless conveyor belt, then causinfy said blanks to travel through semi-circular guide slots to invert said blanks, then causing said blanks to lie one at a time, coated face upward, upon a selected group of cans to be packaged in said. blank, then causing said blank to Vbe folded about said cans, then securing the free ends of said blank to complete said package.

2. In an automatic packaging machine for cans and 'the like, a frame, a passageway along which cans can travel, said passageway supported by said frame, said Ifname having mounted thereon a plurali-ty of rotatable i shafts journalled -in said frame, said shafts having lixedly mounted thereon sprocket wheels, said wheels supporting two upper laterally spaced movable endless sprocket chain belts whose lower reaches travel in substantially horizontal paths, others of said wheels supporting two Ylower vthe lower horizontal reaches of the upper belts with their associated pusher members travel in the same direction, said upper belts and said lower belts being separated from each other by a. distance substantially equal to the height of the cans being packaged, means for rotating said shafts to cause said belts to move at the same speed and means for wrapping a carton about said cans as they travel along said passageway.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 2, in which said machine includes a hopper supported by said frame adjacen-t the upper reaches of said upper belts, means for delivering the paperboard blanks from said hopper onto said upper reaches of said upper belts and in which the pusher members of the upper belts on the upper reaches push the paperboard blanks delivered from said hopper so as to convey them from said hopper onto the cans to be packaged and on the lower reaches push the paperboard blanks and the cans so that they travel through the machine.

4. The machine as claimed -in claim 2, in which said machine includes a hopper supported by said frame, means for causing paperboard blanks to be delivered from said hopper, and means including curved guides to cause said blanks to be inverted during their travel through said machine.

5. The machine as claimed in claim 2, including means exerting pressure against the side Walls of said carto-n simultaneously as the package travels Ialong said passage- Way ,to tighten said carton around said cans, said means including guide walls on both sides of said passageway, said guide walls being converged inwardly from a lateral distance larger than the width of -said package to a distance substantially the width of the exterior of said completed package.

6. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper chain pusher members lare blocks having their forward portions recessed and the lower chain pusher members are elongated bars bridging from one chain to its adjacent `laterally spaced chain, said bars being spaced a predetermined distance from each other and parallel to each other, said blanks on each chain being spaced a predetermined distance irom each other and parallel to the blocks ou its adjacent laterally spaced chain.

7. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein means including folding guides are provided to fold the sides of a package blank downwardly against the sides of said cans, and other means to fold the bottom flaps of a blank upwardly against the bottoms of said cans during their travel along said passageway, said other means consisting of two adjacent folding blades lying in substantially the is same plane, and ra third vertically disposed folding plate having its top portion positioned adjacent the inner edges of said -two adjacent folding blades, said top having a portion thereof inclined downwardly.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hopper includes means for supporting a stack of blanks therein, said means including flanges having serrated ends.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein means are provided for :pulling said blanks from said hopper, said means including two nip rollers in juxtaposition to each other `and to said hopper, one nip roller movable accurately about the upper portion of the other nip roller, and means including mechanical connections to a source of power for actuating said rollers. Y

10. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said hopper includes a plurality of vertically disposed uprights, a flange on Yone side of said hopper .and movable fingers on the opposite side, a bar supported through movable arms connected to the frame of the machine, said bar being adapted to support the weight of a stack of blanks in said hopper, and vacuum cups connected to a vacuum pump, said cups supported by a pipe connected to and supported upon movable arms, said arms being supported by said frame.Y

7'11. The machine as claimed in claim 4, including means for delivering two rows of cans toward said belts and into the paths of the pusher members, and group selector means supported on said frame for selecting into separate groups a predetermined number of cans to be packaged, said group selector means including endless sprocket chain belts riding over and supported by sprocket Wheels, said yWheels being mounted upon vertically disposed rotatable shafts journalled in the frame of said apparatus, a plurality of spacer elements, said elements being secured 4to the outer surfaces of said belts and spaced apart a predetermined distance.

I12. 'Ihe machine as lclaimed in claim 1'1, wherein there is provided a second pair of endless sprocket chain belts mounted upon sprocket wheels supported by vertically disposed rotatable shafts journalled in the frame of said apparatus, said second pair of chain belts being mechanikcally synchronized with said first mentioned chain belts,

.pusher members, said members being secured to said second belts and being adapted to engage the sides of the last cans of a predetermined group as they travel from said iirst mentioned selector means.

13. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said curved guide members are in juxtaposition to the upper belts 'and positioned about one pair of sprocket wheels about which said endless 4belts travel, said guide mem- -bers being adapted to receive and invert blanks from said upper belts.

14. The method of packaging cans and the like which consists of applying a paperboard blank to one end portion of a group of cans to be contained therein, said one end portion being formed'by the ends of the cans, applying a motive force together directly tothe rear edge of the blanks and to the rear portion of the rear cans in the group, adjacent the end portion of the group to which the blank is applied, said motive force insuring the alignment of the blank with the group, and simultaneously applying a separate but similar motive force directly to the rear portion of the rear cans in the group adjacent to the end portion of the group opposite that end thereof to which the blank is applied, the spaced motive forces maintaining the upright position of the cans as they are moved, and maintaining said motive forces continuously while folding and Securing the blank about the group in a manner such as to cause the articles to be relatively immovable within the folded and secured paperboard blank.

l5. The method of packaging cans and the like which consists of applying a paperboard blank to one end portion of a group of cans to be contained therein, said one end portion being formed by the ends of the cans, apply- 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE, THE METHOD OF PACKAGING CANS CONSISTING OF THE STEPS OF DELIVERING TO SAID MACHINES THE SAID CANS TO BE PACKAGED, THEN CAUSING SAID CANS TO TRAVEL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DELIVERING PAPERBOARD BLANKS WITH ONE FACE COATED, COATED FACES DOWNWARD, FROM A HOPPER TO AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT, THEN CAUSING SAID BLANKS TO TRAVEL THROUGH SEMI-CIRCULAR GUIDE SLOTS TO INVERT SAID BLANKS, THEN CAUSING SAID BLANKS TO LIE ONE AT A TIME, COATED FACE UPWARD, UPON A SELECTED GROUP OF CANS TO BE PACKAGED IN SAID BLANK, THEN CAUSING SAID BLANK TO BE FOLDED ABOUT SAID CANS, THEN SECURING THE FREE ENDS OF SAID BLANK TO COMPLETE SAID PACKAGE.
 14. THE METHOD OF PACKAGING CANS AND THE LIKE WHICH CONSISTS OF APPLYING A PAPERBOARD BLANK TO ONE END PORTION OF A GROUP OF CANS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN, SAID ONE END PORTION BEING FORMED BY THE ENDS OF THE CANS, APPLYING A MOTIVE FORCE TOGETHER DIRECTLY TO THE REAR EDGE OF THE BLANKS AND TO THE REAR PORTION OF THE REAR CANS IN THE GROUP, ADJACENT THE END PORTION OF THE GROUP TO WHICH THE BLANK IS APPLIED, SAID MOTIVE FORCE INSURING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE BLANK WITH THE GROUP, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING A SEPARATE BUT SIMILAR MOTIVE FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE REAR PORTION OF THE REAR CANS IN THE GROUP ADJACENT TO THE END PORTION OF THE GROUP OPPOSITE THAT END THEREOF TO WHICH THE BLANK IS APPLIED, THE SPACED MOTIVE FORCES MAINTAINING THE UPRIGHT POSITION OF THE CANS AS THEY ARE MOVED, AND MAINTAINING SAID MOTIVE FORCES CONTINUOUSLY WHILE FOLDING AND SECURING THE BLANK ABOUT THE GROUP IN A MANNER SUCH AS TO CAUSE THE ARTICLES TO BE RELATIVELY IMMOVABLE WITHIN THE FOLDED AND SECURED PAPERBOARD BLANK. 